Dyson says it was inspired to create the PencilVac by its hair dryers, which pack small yet powerful motors inside their handles. The PencilVac has Dyson's smallest, most powerful vacuum cleaner motor to date, a Hyperdymium 140k. The motor is barely over an inch in diameter (28mm), yet it can reach 140,000 RPM.

Today, Dyson is going full circle by announcing the PencilVac, which it says is the "world's slimmest vacuum cleaner." The twist? It achieves that thinness by using a motor that's basically the same as the one in the Supersonic hair dryer.

Dyson’s newest cordless vacuum, which won’t be available in the US until next year, is its thinnest yet with an all-new motor.